UK's online shoppers spend £3,370 a year: survey

The UK's online shoppers spend an average of £3,370 a year over the internet, a new survey has found.

Sixty per cent of UK’s internet shoppers buy online up to three times a month, while 40% buy at least once a week and 10% buy 10 times or more in the course of a month, according to the 2012 WorldPay eCommerce Basket Survey, which quizzed 2,000 people who had bought goods online in the last 12 months.

Some 57% of UK consumers buy books and literature online, compared to 15% who buy film rentals and download, the survey found. It also found UK consumers who bought groceries online were most likely to buy fruit (31%) and vegetables (32%), although they spent the most on alcohol, with women spending £138 and men spending £217.

Those who bought clothing online were most likely to buy shoes (49% of women and 38% of men) but spent the most on handbags, with women spending an average of £187. Travel customers were most likely to book hotels or other accommodation online (42%), with 38% buying air travel. On average £1,608 was spent on package holidays.

Men, the survey found, were more prolific shoppers, spending an average of £3,495 a year, compared to £3,210 for women. Men spent £145 a year more on electronics, £150 more on lifestyle and entertainment and £235 more on travel. Women spent £315 on fashion and clothing compared to £188 for men.

“Every day we hear reports that consumer spending is under pressure,” said Gabriel Hopkins, head of ecommerce products at WorldPay, “but ecommerce continues to grow at a healthy rate. Men are renowned for avoiding shops, but they’re enthusiastic e-shoppers.

“Men typically spend the most online except in the areas of fashion and clothing where women are power shoppers, spending almost twice as much. With more people than ever buying physical and virtual goods online, it’ll be intriguing to see whether this cultural shift has an impact on the ONS basket contents and value.”

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